Hemant Dharmat
A devotee asked Sai Baba, “Where should a seeker go?” Baba replied, “High up”. He enquired from Baba about the onward journey. Baba said “There are several ways; a path goes from here (Shirdi) too. But it’s arduous as it meanders through dense forests where one has to encounter tigers and wolves.” The devotee again asked, “But what, if we take a guide with us?” Baba answered, “Then, there would be no difficulty, as he would take you straight to your destination avoiding tigers and wolves, circumventing ditches enroute and ensuring that you are not lost midway” (Sai Satcharitra chapter 2). On another occasion Baba said, “My special characteristic is that whosoever surrenders completely unto me, and who worships me with faith, and who constantly remembers me, and meditates on me alone, I bestow salvation to him. How can they be conscious of worldly attractions and sensations, who utter my name and contemplate on stories and incidents pertaining to my life. I would draw out such devotees from the jaws of death. So faithfully listen to my stories and assimilate them. This is an easy way to happiness and contentment. It would calm the mind of the hearers, and once they attain the state of deep meditation with unshakable faith, they would experience oneness with supreme consciousness. The simple chanting of my name ‘Sai”Sai’ shall do away with all the sins” (Sai Satcharitra chapter 3).
Sai Baba once said “Live wherever you want, do whatever you like, but always remember that I am aware of all your actions. I am God of all living beings and am omnipresent. All ‘jarh’ and ‘chetan’ beings exist within me. I control and direct the whole universe” (Shri Sai Sacharitara chapter 3). At another occasion, Baba said, “Dogs……..cats, pigs, flies, cows etc. are my forms. It is me who is moving in their shapes. He who visualizes me in all the species is most affectionate to me” (Shri Sai Satcharitara chapter 9). Baba said, “Blessed is he who having realized Guru’s greatness, considers him as incarnation of Hari (Vishnu), Har (Shiv) and Brahma” (Shri Sai Sacharitra chapter 18-19).BhagwanKrishana said, “I regard ‘Gyani’ as my very self; for with the mind steadfast, he (Gyani) is established in me” (Gita- chapter 7, verse18). Lord Krishna further said “whomsoever a devotee seeks to worship with ‘shradha’ , I enforce his unwavering faith in him “adding the devotee gets his desires fulfilled from him – these being truly dispensed by Me alone (Gita chapter 7 verse 21 & 22). But it should not be misconstrued that the ‘Sadguru’ could be more powerful than the almighty since a part (‘Anshaavtar’) cannot be greater than the whole (supreme God).Baba never said that he was ‘Anal Haq’ (‘Soham’) but always said that he was “YadeHaq” (‘Dassoham’). (Shri Sai Sacharitra chapter 23). He never claimed that he was omnipotent. Though he gave ‘darshan’ to some of his devotees in the image of Bhagwan Ram and respective Sadgurus yet he never displayed any physical prowess that could place him on the same pedestal as Ram Krishna or Durga.In fact Baba generally used to sing a bhajan, “Ramte Ram aaoji, Udi (ash of Baba’s dhuni’) kigonyalaoji”. (Shri Sai Sacharitra chapter 33). Ash of Baba’s Dhuni cured his followers from all the incurable ailments. Once Baba told his ardent devotee Shama, “It is only God that rules and inspires. I am neither God nor ‘Malik’, but am only his obedient servant and always remember him” (Shri Sai Sat Charitra chapter 34). The devotees may, therefore, draw their own conclusions and worship Sai Baba as per their belief. Criticism from the revered saint Shankaracharya of Puri notwithstanding, Sai Baba of Shirdi would continue to be worshipped as the millenniums roll by.
Sai Baba left his mortal body on Dushehra. Large number of devotees throng Sai temples in India and abroad this day to pay their obeisance. After early morning prayer known as “kankarhAarti’, Sai devotees apply milk, honey and scented water over Baba’s idol. Baba is then adorned with beautiful robes (‘cholas’), flower garlands and a crown. Devotees offer fresh roses, while a few present bouquets. Makhan-Misri (butter-crystal sugar) and dry fruit ‘Prasad’ is offered to baba and distributed among the gathering. A special ‘langar’ is organized after the ‘Havan’ in which devotees whether they be rich or poor, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or region partake specially prepared food items. Most devotees enjoy day-long ‘BhajanKirtan’, some meditate on Baba’s captivating ‘Murti’ while others prefer reading “Shri Sai Sacharitara’-the book written during Sai Baba’s lifetime that presents most authentic account of events associated with Baba’s over sixty years stay in Shirdi. In the evening, Sai Baba’s ‘Palki’ is taken out with much fanfare.
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